Why won't my 9 month old sleep? I have tried everything.?

Question

My daughter just turned 9 months and has never been a good sleeper. I have tried the following:
Carseat
Swing
Cry it out (complete failure, she typically cries until she gags)
Rocking her back to sleep
Going in and talking/singing to her but not picking her up
Letting her cry for what felt like forever

She is breastfed and completely average in every way except this sleeping thing. If I put her in bed with me she still only sleeps about 2 hours and then wakes up crying. She has always been a fussy baby. None of my other children ever acted this way and I am really at my wits end on how to get some sleep. Thankfully I am staying at home with her and not returning to work. It has gotten to the point now that if I even attempt to lay her in her crib she wakes up screaming and won't go back to sleep. Crying it out just won't work for her (or me). I just can't stand to see her so upset. Thanks!

She does not appear hungry when she wakes. She usually nurses around 8 pm for 30 minutes to top off her tank. She is a voracious eater who gets plenty of calories throughout the day. When she wakes up she just always seems distraught. She does not/will not take a pacifier. I did notice last night that she slept better when she slept on her belly and propped her head up on my arm. Is she still too young to give a soft baby pillow to? Thanks for all of the feedback.

Answer 1

There are a bunch of great articles on how to get your baby to sleep in Parents magazine. You need to teach her to go to sleep on her own in her crib. That doesn't mean that you need to let her cry it out entirely, but don't try to put her down when she's assleep. Make up a routine for bedtime. For example; read a story, breastfeed, laydown with special blankie, binkie, etc. stand near the bed for a minute then walk away so she goes to sleep on her own. If she's that hysterical when she's crying it out then you're right that she'll be too worked up to put herself down. I'd go to the Parents magazine web site and read some of the articles they have. They had one that would fit your scenario exactly. Good luck!

Answer 2

Try seeing your pediatrician. It may be a mild medical condition causing her sleeplessness. Also, are your other children active when you are trying to put her to sleep? Just curious. Have you tried to (I know I hear other parents slapping my hand, and saying "No!" all over the world, but you have tried everything else I know of) lay down and take a nap with her. My son would only go to sleep if I lay down with him. He still has nights at age 12 where he will appear after bedtime and ask, "Mom, is it okay if I sleep in there with you? I can't sleep." He sleeps all the way against the wall on the other side of the bed on those nights, but he goes right to sleep just from the comfort of my being there, I guess. I know most parents say this is a very bad habit to get into, but it sounds like you are at your wits end. If that won't work for you, I have also tried putting him in his carseat and going for a short drive when he was that small and he would go right to sleep. Then it was easier to keep him that way when we got home. Or to play music or a disney movie for him when it is time to lay down. At different ages, most of these worked even if not permanently. Good Luck and God Bless!

Answer 3

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 4

well babies usually only cry because they are hungry, have a dirty diaper, are hurting, or want some loving, so have you checked all these scenerios? Could she be teething? maybe they have not cut through the gums yet but are starting to? could she be having bad dreams? You say she is breatfed so I assume you are trying feeding her. If nothing works maybe you should take her to the doctor maybe something is wrong that you are not seeing, like perhaps and ear infection. Maybe she has acid reflux, problems with gas, constipation, have you evaluated these options too. If she is waking up that much at 9 months something is wrong and you need to find out what it is.

Answer 5

My answer is this :D Mine did the same thing.. I tried all those things too..but the best thing is don't feed her at night and don't let her sleep with you.. it takes about a full week for them to not do it anymore.. you just gotta try and bear it for at least that long..Just wake up when they do lay her back down and leave the room.. also you didn't say if you were giving her a pacifier or not.. that could really help you out.. even if its just for at night..especially being breastfed she might just want that extra comfort.

Answer 6

At 9 months she's already stepped forward somewhat of a drowsing trend. comprehend that usually babies are in basic terms colicky. attempt those little sugar pills talked approximately as Humphreys,obtainable over-the-counter at any pharmacy. they could do the trick. If not, attempt switching up your ordinary by using doing some thing new. My daughter used 2 bypass to sleep 2 the sound of working water. i offered this submit to that mocked those sounds so I not had 2sit in the bathing room together with her till she fell asleep. attempt new issues...they only could paintings

Answer 7

I don't have any children, however a child I was a nanny to had a similar problem. The parents took him to a chiropractor that had exp. with children and infants. He got a message (and I guess something equal to an adjustment) and he sleeps WONDERFUL now. You might want to check into that. I know it sounds funny but if it will work, why not?

Answer 8

Aside from letting her cry it out i dont know. For her to startle herself awake when you put her in her crib means that she's wanting you to comfort her and she'll fuss until she gets it. Theres not a way to end that cycle without letting her learn she can calm herself down and sleep safely in her own bed.

I really dont know. Try some parenting books on sleep issues. That should help.

Answer 9

is she waking up hungry or just waking up upset? if she isnt hungry, it may be a health issue but it would be really hard for a doctor to diagnose it since she cant tell him/her what she is experiencing. there are several sleep disorders that it could be. but then again, she just may be a very light sleeper, its so hard to tell. have you tried a lullaby cd or tape, that works for my daughter who is a light sleeper. or have you tried swaddling her kind of tight, that may help. i wish the best of luck to you, it took my daughter forever to sleep through the night so i know how you feel.

Answer 10

She could be hurting or sick. It's possible she is coming down with a cold. It is also possible that she is teething. Have you tried giveng her Tylenol, or whatever you use? You may want to try that and see where she is in 30 minutes.

Have you talked to her doctor about her crankiness??